Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes (Print Version)
Fluffy vanilla cupcakes infused with fresh strawberries and bright lemon, crowned with creamy citrus buttercream frosting.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking powder
03 - ¼ tsp baking soda
04 - ¼ tsp salt
05 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
10 - ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
11 - ½ cup chopped fresh strawberries
→ Lemon-Strawberry Buttercream
12 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 2 tbsp fresh strawberry puree
15 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
16 - 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
17 - Pinch of salt
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in lemon juice and zest.
05 - Mix in half the dry ingredients, add buttermilk, then finish with remaining dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
06 - Gently fold chopped strawberries into the batter.
07 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
08 - Bake for 16-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.
10 - Mix in strawberry puree, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
11 - Pipe or spread buttercream onto fully cooled cupcakes. Garnish with extra strawberries or lemon zest if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The buttercream alone is worth making these fluffy bites
- Perfect balance of tart and sweet without being cloying
02 -
- Overmixed batter means dense cupcakes, so stop as soon as flour disappears
- Strawberries release moisture, so dont add more than the recipe calls for
03 -
- Substitute Greek yogurt for buttermilk in a pinch
- Extra lemon zest in the frosting kicks up the tang factor